Tamil MPs protest in Sri Lanka Parliament

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 May 2004, 11:08 GMT]Tamil MPs carrying placards and wearing black bands on their arms marched to the Sri Lankan Parliament from its main entrance Wednesday in a protest against Police firing on Tamil estate workers in the hill country town of Kandapola last month. “The Sri Lankan Police and army behave like they are Sinhala Police and Sinhala army. They systematically work against the Tamils," said TNA MP, Mr. Suresh Premachandran during the debate on the Kandapola incident in Parliament Wednesday.

Speaking on the Kandapola violence in which two were killed when Police opened fire on Tamil estate workers last month, Mr. Maheswaran MP, accused the Police of causing the problem by acting partially. He charged that President Kumaratunga’s government is hostile to Tamils although it is not stable. Mr. Maheswaran said: “Even in these times of peace Police raided the home of the well known Tamil journalist Sivaram."

He asserted that his party [UNP] would somehow come to power again. “We will certainly come to power soon. Your rule won’t last for long," Mr. Maheswaran said.

Speaking on the Kandapola on the violence during the debate, Mr. Periyasamy Chandrasekeran said it was a premeditated act by the Police against the Tamils of the hill country.

He said a small clash had escalated into full-scale violence because of Police mishandling. “We and the Tamil National Alliance have shown our united opposition to the Kandapola violence. We should face the problems confronting Tamils with unity," Mr. Chandrasekeran said.

Reacting to hooting from the government benches while he was speaking, he said: “We are being prevented from speaking about our problem here. Where then do we go for justice?”